Running-board.



Patented Mar. 24, 1914,

UNITED STAWENT EDWARD GRUBER, 0F CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE HYDRAULIC PRESS ED STEEL COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, 01-110, A CORPORATION 01 OHIO.

RUNNING-BOARD.

Specification of-Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 24., 1914.

Application filed January 7,1910. Serial N 0. 536,891.

State of Ohio. have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Running- Boards. of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,

This invention relates to running boards for automobiles, or similar vehicles, which are employed by passengers for the purpose of entering and leaving such vehicles.

The object of the invention is to produce a running board of metal, pressed to shape, which. while light. will possess ample strength and which will be particularly well adapted to prevent the slipping of the feet of the passengers making use of the running board for the purpose of entering or alighting from the vehicle.

A further object of the invention is to produce an article of this kind the cost of production of which shall be reduced to a minimum.

Generally speaking, the invention may be defined as consistingof the combinations of elements and parts embodied in the claims hereto annexed and illustrated in the drawings forming part thereof, in which- Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a running board constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2, an enlarged detail plan of such running board; while Figs. 3 and 4 represent sectional details corresponding. respectively, to the lines 33 and 4--l of Fig. 2.

The running board shown herein comprises a continuous blank of metal bent to form and having certain characteristics.

In the drawings, 1 denotes the running board generally, the same being formed from pressed metal. The running board is provided at its opposite sides with flanges 2 projecting downwardly at substantially right angles to the body thereof. As the metal from which the running. board is formed is comparatively light, it is advisable to strengthen the same intermediate of the side edges thereof. This is done by bending the central portion of the blank -so as to form an integral downwardly projecting rib 3, said rib being formed by bending the blank downwardly and along a line co-inciding substantially withthe central longitudinal axis of the board or blank. The opposite sides of the rib 3 are pressed into close engagement, so that the running board is provided in effect with a single integral rib projecting downwardly from the central portion thereof. I

For the purpose of providing the top of the running board with a surface which will prevent the slipping of the feet of passengers entering or leaving the vehicle, I provide the upper surface of the running board with peculiarly constructed projections. These projections are formed by subjecting the light metal of the running board to the action of a punch press operating upon the under surface of the metal bank. The action of the punch is to press one or more. projections 4 above the upper surface of the body of the running board- In producing these projections, I employ punches which will produce a shearing ac- .tion upon the metal and will form projections extending preferably at least half way through the body of the board or blank, as shown at 5, Fig. 4.

The punches will not extend into the metal a sufiicient distance to out out slugs from the same, but will produce rounded projections on the upper surface of the running board blank. A plurality of such rounded projections will not afford protection against slipping. Consequently, the projections 4 are themselves subjected to the action of another punch operating upon the upper surfaces thereof and forming recesses 6 therein. The punches which operate upon the upper surface of the projections 4 are relatively short and narrow and produce recesses or depressions in the upper surface of each projection. This operation spreads out and fiat-tens the projections and provides the same with square or sharp edges, as shown at 7. By this operation, projections are provided which will reduce to a minimum the slipping of the feet of passengers when usingthe running board, and which will at the same time avoid injuring the footwear. ofthe passengers.

The projections 4 are preferably elongated and are inclined at an angle of about 45 with respect to the central longitudinal rib 3, the projections on opposite sides of said rib being oppositely inclined. By having the projections onopposite sides of the longitudinal center of the running board oppositely inclined, the liability to slip is greatly projections being formed with a recess in its upper surface, the side Walls of said recesscs being substantially perpendicular to lessened. Suppose the foot of a passenger should slip longitudinally along the pro ections on one side of the running board. As soon as the foot reaches the projections on the opposite side, the motion is arrested by the fact that these projections extend lengthwise with respect to the other projections and thus arrest the movement of the foot.

The running board described and illustrated herein is cheap of production, but is strong and of marked eficiency in operation.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. As a new article of manufacture, a running board formed of metal having on each side of its longitudinal axis a series of projections, said projections being elongated and extending at an angle to the axis of the running board, the projections of one series extendingat an angle with respect to the projections of the other series.

As a new article of manufacture, a running board formed of metal having on each side of its longitudinal axis a series of projections, said projections being elongated and extending at an angle to the axis of the running board, the projections of one series extending at substantially right angles to the projections of the other series and said projections having substantially vertical sides and fiat tops,- whereby sharp antislipping edges are formed between the sides and tops of said projections.

3. As a new article of manufacture, a foot step having a plurality of flat topped projections on its upper surface, each of said the top of said projection whereby sharp anti-slipping edges are formed.

4. As a new article of manufacture, a metallic running board having on each side of its longitudinal axis a series of eloiwated fiat topped projections pressed upwardly from the body thereof, the major axis of the pro- I jections on opposite sides of the axis extending at an angle with respect .to such axis and to the projections upon the opposite side of the board, each of said projections having an elongated recess in its upper surface, the

side walls of which are substantially perpendicular to such top surfaces, whereby antislipping edges are formed.

As a new article of manufacture, a metallic running board having the upper surface thereof provided with fiat topped projections, the tops of said projections being formed with recesses, the side walls of said recesses and the side walls of said projections being substantially perpendicular to the top surface of said projections, and the lower surface of said running board being formed with depressions coinciding with said projections, whereby the thickness of said running board is substantially uniform at all points.

. In testimony whereof, I hereunto afiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

EDWARD GRUBER.

Witnesses:

R. S. SPENCER, H. J. FOSTER. 

